Chassis stacking

• US 6,726,438 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Shabana, Mohsen D., Chernoff, Adrian B., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E., Vitale, Robert Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): KRIZEK, JANICE LEE
• Application Number:
  US10/207,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20030038469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 206/509, 206/511, 280/33.991, 280/33.997, 280/33.998, 410/30, 410/24, 410/26, 410/56, 410/57, 410/65, 410/66, 414/788.2, 414/798.4, 414/802
• US Class Current: 414/802
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/14 having dampers accumulating utilisable energy, e.g. compressing air fluid springs with an accumulator B60G11/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/10 Independent suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/18 Multilink suspensions, e.g. elastokinematic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/44 steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/462 Toe-in/out
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/40 Type of actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/10 Mounting of suspension elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/11 Mounting of sensors thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/14 Mounting of suspension arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/16 Mounting of vehicle body on chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/20 Mounting of accessories, e.g. pump, compressor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/202 of cables
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/011 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0114 Independent suspensions on subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/50 Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/99 : Suspension element selection procedure depending on loading or performance requirements, e.g. selection of damper, spring or bush
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 : Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/50 : Electric vehicles; Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/60 : Vehicles using regenerative power
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/21 : Traction, slip, skid or slide control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/802 : Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/90 : System Controller type
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 : Suspension Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/92 : ABS - Brake Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/963 : Steer-by-wire
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/18 : with two or more pivoted arms, e.g. parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/003 : of adjustable length
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/004 : for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 : Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 : of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/07 : of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/001 : one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 : the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 : the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 : Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 : for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 : rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 : Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/065 : employing disc B60T1/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 : by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 : Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 : characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/74 : with electrical assistance or drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/82 : Brake-by-Wire, EHB
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/00 : Brake-action initiating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 : by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/00 : Arrangements for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions, e.g. limiting or varying distribution of braking force by changing number of effective brake cylinders in power brake systems B60T17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/07 : wide-hipped frame type, i.e. a wide box-shaped mid portion with narrower sections extending from said mid portion in both fore and aft directions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/10 : in which the main member is plate-like
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 24/02 : Vehicle body, not intended to move relatively to the vehicle frame, and mounted on vibration absorbing mountings, e.g. rubber pads
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/00 : Power-assisted or power-driven steering for non-deflectable wheels B62D11/00; fluid-pressure servomotors in general F15B
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/18 : Steering knuckles; King pins
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A vehicle chassis having substantially all of the mechanical, electrical, and structural componentry necessary for a fully functional vehicle includes at least an energy conversion system, a steering system, and a braking system. The chassis is configured for matability with a variety of different types or styles of vehicle bodies. Various prior art mechanical control linkages between a driver and controlled systems are replaced with non-mechanical control signal transmission components. Fuel cell technology is also implemented. A substantially flat and relatively thin vehicle chassis enables compact storage of multiple vehicle chassis. This compact storage is achieved by high density vertical stacking of the vehicle chassis, which improves packaging and shipping efficiency, reduces plant floor usage for storage during or before testing, assembly or shipping processes, and may reduce overall manufacturing, assembly, shipping, and/or vehicle costs. The chassis is characterized by the absence of a front engine compartment, with energy conversion, energy storage, steering and braking systems contained substantially within a generally flat frame, having substantially flat upper and lower faces to facilitate optimal stacking efficiency.

Claims

1. A vehicle chassis comprising a structural frame;

a steering system mounted with respect to the structural frame;

a by-wire braking system mounted with respect to the structural frame;

an energy conversion system mounted with respect to the structural frame and controllable by wire; and

at least one vertical load bearing member mounted with respect to the structural frame and configured to bear a vertical load of a second chassis stacked thereon.

2. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the steering system is controllable by wire and the energy conversion system includes a fuel cell.

3. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the chassis is without tires and further characterized by the absence of a front engine compartment and having substantially flat upper and lower faces to facilitate optimal stacking efficiency.

4. The vehicle chassis of claim 1, wherein the vertical load bearing member extends from a lower extent to an upper extent, and includes a first interlocking element at the upper extent and a second interlocking element at the lower extent to transfer loads from a chassis stacked thereabove to a chassis stacked therebelow.

5. The vehicle chassis of claim 4, wherein the first interlocking element comprises a female-type interlock mechanism and the second interlocking element comprises a male-type interlock mechanism, thereby enabling a plurality of chassis having said at least one load bearing member thereon to be vertically stacked on top of each other by engagement of male interlock mechanisms with female interlock mechanisms of adjacent chassis.

6. A method for improving chassis packaging efficiency, comprising:

vertically stacking a first chassis above a second chassis, wherein the first chassis and the second chassis include a structural frame, a by-wire steering system mounted with respect to the structural frame, a by-wire braking system mounted with respect to the structural frame, and a by-wire energy conversion system mounted with respect to the structural frame.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of employing a rack, the rack having at least one vertical member and a plurality of horizontal members defining a series of tiered cavities, wherein the first chassis is placed in a tiered cavity above the second chassis.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of employing a plurality of vertical-load-bearing support members;

wherein one of the plurality of vertical-load-bearing support members is mounted with respect to the structural frame of the first chassis and one of the plurality of vertical-load-bearing support members is mounted with respect to the structural frame of the second chassis; and

wherein the vertical-load-bearing support member of the first chassis transfers vertical load to the vertical-load-bearing support member of the second chassis.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising storing the first chassis and the second chassis.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of transporting the first chassis and the second chassis.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising assembling a plurality of chassis.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of obtaining possession of a plurality of chassis in a commercial transaction.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein each of said chassis is characterized by the absence of a front end engine compartment to maximize stacking efficiency.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

employing a pallet to facilitate said stacking;

the pallet including a horizontal member configured to support the first chassis above the second chassis and at least one vertical member configured to transfer vertical load caused by the first chassis to a surface not on the second chassis.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the member configured to support the first chassis above the second chassis is operably mounted to the structural frame.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the pallet defines holes positioned and configured for forklift engagement.

17. A vehicle chassis comprising:

a structural frame;

a by-wire steering system mounted with respect to the structural frame;

a by-wire braking system mounted with respect to the structural frame;

an energy conversion system including a fuel cell, mounted with respect to the structural frame and controllable by wire;

wherein each of said systems is positioned substantially within the structural frame to form a relatively thin and flat chassis structure; and

at least one vertical load bearing member mounted with respect to the structural frame and configured to bear a vertical load of a second chassis stacked thereon;

wherein the chassis is further characterized by the absence of a front engine compartment;

wherein the vertical load bearing member extends from a lower extent to an upper extent, and includes a first interlocking element at the upper extent and a second interlocking element at the lower extent; and

wherein the first interlocking element comprises a female-type interlock mechanism and the second interlocking element comprises a male-type interlock mechanism, thereby enabling a plurality of chassis having said at least one load bearing member thereon to be vertically stacked on top of each other by engagement of male interlock mechanisms with female interlock mechanisms of respective adjacent chassis.

18. The chassis of claim 17, wherein the chassis is further characterized by having substantially flat upper and lower faces to maximize stacking efficiency.